Recommended for elementary school students! Science fair topics & craft ideas

The reality of the fish we usually eat

Sakana-kun’s Fish Encyclopedia: Red Sea Bream Edition

At the fish sections of supermarkets and the like, most items are sold already processed.

Fish certainly aren’t born swimming around as fillets.

This is about looking into what these fish actually look like as living creatures.

Let’s try floating it on water.

Experimental activity: Let’s investigate the buoyancy of objects that are the same size but have different weights!

Simply put, this is an experiment about buoyancy and density.

Let’s sort familiar objects into those that float in water and those that don’t.

Now, how much does size matter? How much does weight matter? And are there things that won’t float in plain water but will float in salt water? Let’s find out.

What happens if you microwave soap?

Do you know what happens if you microwave a bar of soap?

A simple experiment you can try right away if you have bar soap lying around at home or in your stock: what happens when you microwave soap? Put a bar of soap in the microwave and turn it on—you’ll be amazed by the fun sight! You can still use the soap afterward, so report on how it feels to use.

You might also capture the changing shape in a video or photos as it heats in the microwave.

It’s an experiment recommended from an ecology and SDGs perspective as well.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

utatane

Report a problem

Let’s paint on water.

[Fun Experiment] Do drawn pictures float on water? Drawing on water with a water-based pen

Here’s an experiment where you draw pictures on water using a water-based pen.

It’s fascinating that you can draw on the surface of water, isn’t it? All you need is some clear tape and a whiteboard marker in any color you like.

Stick a piece of clear tape onto a backing, such as the edge of a clear file folder, and draw your picture on the tape with the marker.

Once it’s completely dry, place it into water.

The trick is to dip it in at an angle to the water’s surface.

The drawing on the tape will peel off and transfer onto the water’s surface.

It’s an experiment that people of a wide range of ages can enjoy.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

air cannon

[Summer Vacation Independent Project] 03: Let's Make an Air Cannon!

It’s a familiar experiment you often see on TV and other media! You can easily make an air cannon just by cutting a round hole in a cardboard box.

If you clap the sides with both hands, you can observe the air shooting out.

You can also do plenty of fun experiments, like setting up empty boxes or candles and seeing how many meters the air from the cannon can reach.

Maze ideas

You can make a fun maze with a cardboard wrap core! Here’s a simple way to do it.

First, cut construction paper to the length of the wrap core, and draw a maze on it using any writing tools you like.

Attach double-sided tape to the paper with the maze and wrap it around the core.

Next, cut a piece of wrapping film to about 5 cm and stick your favorite stickers on it—that’s it! Thread it through the wrap core to play the maze game.

If you make the construction paper removable, you can enjoy original mazes over and over again.

It’s also recommended to use stickers of your favorite characters to enjoy a themed world.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kepiko

Report a problem

Making instruments with a plastic wrap core

No drill or cutter needed: Make instruments with a plastic wrap core [Crafts]

Let’s make a Chilean instrument that sounds like rain using a plastic wrap core! First, mark a bunch of toothpicks at the length of the wrap core so they match its length.

Next, cut the wrap core in a spiral.

Glue the cut toothpicks along the spiral using wood glue or similar adhesive.

Once you return the spiraled core to its original shape, seal the openings with duct tape.

Put in grains like mixed grains, different sizes of rice, beads, or beans.

After you cap it, your Chilean instrument, the rainstick, is complete!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

kepiko

Report a problem